JCB, Digital Garage and Lawson will test USDC payments at a Tokyo convenience store on Thursday

Stablecoin Payments Enter the Convenience Store

Three Japanese corporate heavyweights are bringing stablecoin payments to the checkout counter. JCB (@JCB_CARD), Digital Garage (@DigitalGarage) and Lawson (@lawsonbank_jp) have signed a basic agreement to conduct a proof of concept (PoC) for in-store payments using USDC, the US dollar-pegged stablecoin. The test is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, at the Gate City Osaki Atrium branch of Lawson in Tokyo.

The mechanics are straightforward. Participants use the Consumer-Presented Mode (CPM) method, in which a barcode containing stablecoin wallet address information displayed on a user's smartphone is scanned by Lawson's in-store POS terminal. The trial runs on base:0x833589fcd6edb6e08f4c7c32d4f71b54bda02913 on @base, using Coinbase's Base app as the supported wallet.

JCB provides the payment web screen and barcode generation and settles merchant proceeds in fiat currency. Digital Garage supplies the payment API and backend system. Lawson contributes the store environment and connects its point-of-sale system using code-payment processing technology from Canal Payment Services.

Participation is restricted to personnel from the three companies. The initiative is primarily targeting inbound visitors to Japan , making it relevant to the country's growing tourism economy. The PoC aims to assess the practicality and convenience of stablecoin payments, potentially reducing currency exchange burdens and enhancing cash flow for merchants.

Part of a Broader Push in Japan

Thursday's test does not come out of nowhere. This initiative follows a January 2026 collaboration between JCB, Digital Garage and Resona Holdings aimed at the social implementation of stablecoin payments in Japan. That earlier pilot ran at a Tokyo venue in late February 2026 and helped lay the groundwork for today's retail-focused experiment.

Japan created the legal foundation for such projects in 2023 by updating its Payment Services Act, allowing banks, trust companies and licensed money transfer firms to issue fiat-backed stablecoins. The companies said the experiment will evaluate payment-flow feasibility, POS integration requirements, impact on checkout operations, time to completion and usability of the customer-facing web system.

Japan's convenience store sector, which serves tens of millions of customers daily, represents a significant proving ground for digital payment innovation. A successful PoC could pave the way for broader stablecoin adoption at physical retail locations across the country.

Sources:
JCN Newswire: JCB, in Collaboration with Digital Garage, to Conduct a PoC for Stablecoin-Based Payments at a Lawson Store
Japan Industry News: JCB and Partners Test Stablecoin Payments in Japan's Lawson Stores
Digital Garage Official Release: Stablecoin Payments Pilot Program